Sept. 30, 2008

MANAKIN-SABOT, Va. - Freshman John Popeck posted a 54-hole total of 1-under-par 212 to lead University of Maryland finishers Tuesday at the VCU Shootout men's golf tournament played at the Hermitage Country Club.

Popeck, playing in only his second tournament as a collegian, had identical scores of 70 in Monday's second round and Tuesday's final round after opening with a 72. He finished in a group of five players tied for 14th at 212 and was one of 18 players who finished under par for 54 holes.

As a team, Maryland finished eighth at 861. The Terrapins, who shot 291 on Tuesday, were eight strokes behind Iowa for seventh in a solid field.

Wake Forest won the team event with a wire-to-wire performance, taking the lead with rounds of 273 and 269 on Monday and finishing at 825. Augusta State and host VCU tied for second at 841.

Also for the Terrapins, sophomore Donnie Shin tied for 22nd at 214 following a 73 on Tuesday, while senior Chris Gold posted a 218 total and a tie for 41st after a final-round 78. Freshman Joey Rice had a 72 on Tuesday for a 219 total and a tie for 44th, with sophomore Andrew Kay tying for 67th at 223.

Dustin Garza of Wichita State and Brendan Gielow of Wake Forest tied for first place individually at 12-under-par 201. Lanto Griffin of VCU, Dustin Groves of Wake Forest and Henrik Norlander of Augusta State were one stroke back.

Maryland plays next in the Memphis Intercollegiate on Oct. 6 and 7.

FINAL TEAM SCORES

1. Wake Forest       273 269 283  825
2. Augusta State     284 282 275  841
(tie) VCU            280 280 281  841
4. Virginia          284 275 287  846
5. Wichita State     286 278 285  849
6. Virginia Tech     279 280 291  850
7. Iowa              285 278 290  853
8. MARYLAND          286 284 291  861
9. Penn State        294 280 289  863
10. SE Louisiana     291 283 292  866
11. East Carolina    296 282 289  867
12. UNC Wilmington   292 284 292  868
T13. South Florida   285 295 293  873
T13. Richmond        285 294 294  873
15. Old Dominion     301 287 286  874